Heart Failure–Type Symptom Score Trajectories in CKD: Findings From the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) Study

Abstract

Quality of life in chronic kidney disease (CKD) is impaired by a large burden of symptoms including some that overlap with the symptoms of heart failure (HF). We studied a group of individuals with CKD to understand the patterns and trajectories of HF-type symptoms in this setting. Prospective cohort study. 3,044 participants in the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) without prior diagnosis of HF. Sociodemographics, medical history, medications, vital signs, laboratory values, echocardiographic and electrocardiographic parameters. Trajectory over 5.5 years of a HF-type symptom score (modified Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire [KCCQ] Overall Summary Score with a range of 0-100 where<75 reflects clinically significant symptoms). Latent class mixed models were used to model trajectories. Multinomial logistic regression was used to model relationships of predictors with trajectory group membership. Five trajectories of KCCQ score were identified in the cohort of 3,044 adults, 45% of whom were female, and whose median age was 61 years. Group 1 (41.7%) had a stable high score (minimal symptoms, average score of 96); groups 2 (35.6%) and 3 (15.6%) had stable but lower scores (mild symptoms [average of 81] and clinically significant symptoms [average of 52], respectively). Group 4 (4.9%) had a substantial worsening in symptoms over time (mean 31-point decline), and group 5 (2.2%) had a substantial improvement (mean 33-point increase) in KCCQ score. A majority of group 1 was male, without diabetes or obesity, and this group had higher baseline kidney function. A majority of groups 2 and 3 had diabetes and obesity. A majority of group 4 was male and had substantial proteinuria. Group 5 had the highest proportion of baseline cardiovascular disease (CVD). No validation cohort available, CKD management changes in recent years may alter trajectories, and latent class models depend on the missing at random assumption. Distinct HF-type symptom burden trajectories were identified in the setting of CKD, corresponding to different baseline characteristics. These results highlight the diversity of HF-type symptom experiences in individuals with CKD.